Domestic Violence Debate Turns Ugly

Discussion in Russia about domestic violence has gotten more serious over the past few years, and a showdown seems to be on the horizon. While Russian society has gradually moved toward recognizing women’s right to be safe from abusers, and while horrifying statistics have signaled a national crisis, actual policymaking has followed a different course. Most notably, the government in 2017 decriminalized first-time battery committed in the home; guilt is punishable by a mere fine.

Since then, several outrageous cases have focused more attention on the issue, and public opinion is swinging toward harsher penalties for domestic violence. According to state pollster Public Opinion Foundation, 57 percent of those queried believe decriminalizing domestic violence is a bad idea, versus 44 percent in 2016.

Among the cases that particularly incensed Russians was the story of Margarita Gracheva, a young mother of two whose husband in December 2017 took her to the forest, where he beat her and chopped off her hands. Gracheva had previously lodged complaints of assault and stalking, but police did not take action, instead pressuring her to withdraw her complaint, calling the husband’s behavior a “declaration of love.”

Gracheva now wears a bionic prosthesis and has become a public figure, campaigning for amputees and speaking out against domestic violence following her abuser’s conviction. She has written a book and is also one of four complainants to the European Court of Human Rights regarding the Russian government’s inaction on crimes of domestic violence. But in a government response to ECHR regarding the case, Russian Deputy Justice Minister Mikhail Galperin wrote that the problem is exaggerated, and that in fact men are more vulnerable under existing legislation as they are “not expected to ask for protection.”

Lawyers representing domestic violence victims, relatives of murdered women, former victims, and rights activists have long pushed for a law specifically criminalizing domestic violence. They say the measure would make the offense more likely to be taken seriously and be investigated by police, and that it would also provide targets of violence with additional protection, like restraining orders.

The proposed bill, which may already be before parliament by the time this issue goes to press, has some support among lawmakers. One pro-Kremlin MP, Oksana Pushkina, stands out as the only person in her party, United Russia. to support the bill. She has herself become a victim of online stalking, complaining of being spammed by identical hate messages and anonymous threats.

Opposition to the bill is strong, with right-wing, anti-Western, and religious lobbyists leading a campaign to discredit those speaking out for women’s rights. The Orthodox Church condemned the bill as an attempt to meddle in family affairs, and Patriarch Kirill called it “dangerous.”

At press time, top state officials are remaining mum and avoiding taking sides, although Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev stated that “if people are complaining, there may indeed be a problem.”

Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, has yet to pronounce his verdict, following months during which his spokesman refused to address the issue, despite prodding by journalists.